Percolator



' of which the following is a specification,

' cylinders of sheet metal,

copending UNITED STATES THEODORE AIBTMEYER, O15 PITTSBURGH,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION- OF PENN- SYLVANIA,

1,379,671. Original application filed March 28,

Specification of Letters Patent.

PERCOLATOR. I

Patented May 31, 1921.

1913, Serial No. 757,354. Divided and this application -fi1ed November 10, 1917. Serial No. 201,213.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE ABTMEYER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Percolatofis, t is application being a division of application Serial No. 7 57 ,354, filed March 28, 1913.

My invention relates to electric heating apparatus and it has special reference to electrically heated liquid-percolating devices. This application is a division of my application Serial No. 7 57 ,354, filed March 28, 1913, and also assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. i

The object of my invention is to provide a percolator yvhich shall be rapid and efficient in action, inexpensive, durable and compact in construction, and pleasing in ap earance.

eretofore, comparatively large bodies of liquid have been isolated in the heating chambers of percolators, and, in consequence, considerable time has been required to flash the liquid into steam. Inefficiency of operation has also been due, in many cases, to failure to locate the heater element in sufficiently close proximity to the liquid to be heated. Some of the parts of percolators of former types have also been of unusual and intricate form, thereby increasing the cost of manufacture.

According to my invention, I provide a percolator in which a comparatively thin annular column of liquid is isolated for heating, and the, heater element is disposed directly adjacent to such columnthroughout its length in order'to'rapidly and efliciently convert the isolated liquid into steam. The construction of my percolator is very simple, inasmuch as it comprises, for the most part,

cost of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of a liquid-containing vessel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, in longitudinal section, of a modification of certain parts of my invention; Fig. 3 is a view showing the spool upon which the heating element is mounted; Fig. 4 is a plan view of one part of the liquidthus reducing the spreading device employed in my invention; Fig. 5 is a view, in side elevation, of the liquid-spreading deyice; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on lines VI-VI of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, on line VII- VII of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a plan view, partly in section and with parts broken, of the valve mechanism located in the lower end of my apparatus, the section being taken substantially alongv line VIII- VIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the terminal plug employed in my percolator;

Figs. 10 and 11 are views in plan and in side elevation, respectively, of onepart ofthe liquid-spreading device employed in the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 12 is,a plan view of another part' thereof. I

Referring to the drawing,a vessel 1 of any suitable forfn and dimensions contains a body of liquid 2, a percolating element 3 having its lower end immersed in said liquid, a perforated containing-cup 4 disposed near the upper end of said element, and a suitable cover member 5.

The percolating element 3 comprises a heater 6, a heat-insulated incasing member 7, a liquid-spreading device 8, and a bottom valve mechanism 9. The heater 6 embodies a cylindrical outer sheath 10, a-heating element 11 disposed in the lower end thereof and insulated therefrom and wound upon a suitable hollow spool 12 of lava or other insulating material. -Leads 13, insulated and protected by a plurality of porcelain beads 14, or in some other suitable manner extend through an internal body 15 of-infue sorial earth or the like and through a terminal-plug 16 of bakelite or other suitable material disposed within the upper end of the sheath 10 andsecurely held therein by a plurality of annular indentations 17 in said sheath, or byother suitable means. A suitable terminal socket 18, embodying supply conductors 19, is employed for makin electrical connections to the leads 13. T e incasing member 7 is disposed around the heater 6 v.to form a thin-walled annular chamber 20 adapted for the liquid. The upper rim of the member 7 is provided with *a plurality-preferably three-.-of spot indentations 21, for centering the heater 6. (See Fig. 6). Another shell 22 envelops the lower end of the inca'sing member 7 to form an air s ace 23 for purposes of heatinsulation. he upper end of the shell22 supports the perforated cylindrical cup 4, which is adapted to contain ground coffee 24, or the like. The liquid spreading device 8'is disposed above the containing cup 4 and comprises two members, the lower member 25 being attached to the incasing member 7 and the upper member 26 to the heater sheath 10; The lower member comprises a concentrically-disposed cylinder 27 and an integral flat flange 28 disposed flush with the upper rim of the shell 22. The upper member 26 comprises a concentrically disposed disk 29 and a plurality of radiallydisposed grooves 30-to serve as liquid channels; (See Fig. 5). The bottom gravitytype valve mechanism 9 embodies a substantiallyfrusto-conical 'tubularsupporting base 31 having edge notches or recesses 32, thereby forming a plurality of spaced feet 32. An upper cylindrical tube portion 33 engages the lower end of the shell 22 to form ,a circular recess 34 below the lower end of the heater 6. An integral disk 35, having a central opening 36, partially forms a lower vwall for the recess 34, and a movable disk 37, having edge notches or recesses, is so disposed as to cover and uncover the opening 36, thereby. performing the functions of a check valve. It is understood that any other suitable means for permitting entrance of the liquid may be employed.

In the modification of my invention shown .in Fig. 2, the percolating element 3 comprises a heater 38, the heat-insulated incasing member 7 and the outer associated shell 22, a liquid-spreading device 39 anda bottom valve mechanism 40. The heater 38 embodies a heater element 41, of the heliinsulating material 15, such as infusorial' earth, is employed to fill the hollow central portionof said spool. Heater terminal leads 43 project through the top of the sheath 10 member 44 and are connected to a supplycircuit in any sultable manner. The liquid-spreading device 39 com rises two members, the'lower member 7, and the upper member 45 being attached to the sheath 10 and superposed on said lower member. The lower member has the form of a concentricall disposed ring 46 having a conical flange 4; provided with a plurality of radial grooves 48. The upper member 45 comprises a cylindrical body por-" eing attached to the incasing the outer shell 22, and an intermediately disposed integraldisk 51 having a centrally disposed opening 52, through which liquid may enter the heater 38.

an imperforate tubular casing closed at its bottom, a spool of electrical insulating'material in said casing, a resistance conductor wound on said spool and insulated from said casing, an insulating plug secured in] the upper end of said casing, terminal members secured to said plug, means electrically connecting the ends of'said resistance conductor to said terminal members, and an imperforate tubular member open at its top and bottom and surrounding said casing.

2. An electric heater element comprising an imperforate tubular casing closed at its bottom, an imperforate tubular wall surrounding said casing to form a thin annular passage outside of said casing, said tubular wall being open at the top and the' bottom thereof, a spool of electrical insulating materialin. said casing, a resistance conductor wound on said spool and insulated from said casing, an insulating plug secured in the upper end of said casing, terminal members secured in said plug, connecting conductors between the ends of said resistance conductor and said terminal members, and a fillingof insulating material in-said casing surrounding said connecting conductors.

3. An electric heater element comprising an imperforate tubular casing closed at its bottom, a spool of electrical insulating ma terial in the bottom of said casing, a resistance conductor wound on said spool and insulated from said casing, an insulating plug secured in the upper end of said casing,

terminal members secured to said plug,

means electrically connecting the .ends of said resistance conductor to said terminal v members and a filling of insulating material in the space between said spool and said plug and surrounding said connecting means. 7 v

4; In a heating apparatus, the combination with an electric heating element and terminal members therefor; of an incasing member for said element, a plug embodyin the heater terminals disposed within sai incasing member, insulating material disposed in said incasingzmember between the heating element and the plug, and an imperforate tubular member surrounding said incasing member in .a manner to form an annular passageway outslde of said incasing member, said tubular member being open at its top and bottom.

5. In a heating apparatus, the combination K with an electric heater element and terminal members therefor, of an elongated incasing member =for said element, an imperforate tubular wall surrounding said incasing member, and a shell enveloping the lower end of said imperforate tubular wall to form a dead-air space.

6. In a heating apparatus, the combination with an electric heater element and terminal members therefor, of a cylindrical envelop for said element, and an insulating plug in which said heater terminals are embedded, said heater element being disposed within one end of said cylindrical envelop and said plug being disposed within the other end of said cylindrical envelop, and insulating material disposed in the cylindrical envelop between the plug and .said heater element.

perforate tubular'wall open at the top and the bottom surrounding said casing to form a narrow annular passage outside of said casing, and a shell enveloping the lower end of said incasing member to form a dead-air space.

8. An electric-heater element comprising an imperforate tubular casing closed at its bottom, a spool of electrical insulating material in said casing, a resistance conductor wound on said spool and insulated from said casing, an insulating plug secured in the upper end of said casing, terminal members secured to said plug, means electrically connecting the ends of said resistance conductor to said terminal members, an imperforate tubular member open at its top and bottom and surrounding said casing, and a shell enveloping the lower end of said imperforate tubular member to form a deadairspace.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day of Nov., 1917.

THEODORE ABTMEYER, 

